~ An Aussie look at Financial markets-Been in the Biz for over 30 years!

Wednesday 7th September Australian Market Wrap

ASX 200 rises 11 points to 5424 as GDP fails to move the dial. Gold stocks and banks help keep market positive after flirting with a negative day at lunch. Asian markets mixed as Japan slips 0.41% and China squeezing higher by 0.32%. AUD shrugs off GDP print rising to 76.72c and US Futures flat.

STOCKS AND SECTORS

Gold! Gold! Gold! for Australia today with the bullion price rise driving miners higher. SaracenMinerals (SAR) +11.48% also added to the bull case with some good drilling results today. Once again the leverage of the sector highlighted with Oceanagold (OGC) +8.50% and NorthernStar (NST) +8.13%.

Other resources failed to follow through with BHP +0.29%, Fortescue Metals (FMG) -3.48% and RIO -0.76% all weaker after record iron ore exports. Base metal company IndependenceGroup (IGO) +4.29% had a good day following a substantial shareholder notice. Energy stocks weaker with Santos (STO) -4.98% the standout following the monthly drilling report update. Coal stocks weaker on profit taking with Whitehaven Coal (WHC) -2.76% though Stanmore Coal (SMR) +2.11%.

Banks have become the new REIT market as investors continue to switch and swap between the four trying to eke out relative performance. Westpac (WBC) +1.62% in demand today as was CommonwealthBank (CBA) +1.11%. The REIT sector was again under a cloud given potential rate cuts are off the table following the GDP number. The sector has run hard and inevitably we would see some profit taking. GPT—2.72% and Stockland (SGP) -1.89%.

Other interest rate sensitive stocks also continue to track sideways at best with SydneyAirport (SYD) +0.57%, Transurban (TCL) +0.45% and AGLEnergy (AGL) -0.44%.

A reversal of fortunes today for aged care, the most volatile sector in the market this week. News that the government will review its decision on funding was welcomed by punters pushing EstiaHealth (EHE) +9.90%, RegisHealthcare (REG) +1.31% and JaparaHealthcare (JHC) +4.88%.

Food and health stocks were back in demand A2Milk (A2M) +7.69% was especially strong. BWX +5.02% back in favour too as was Blackmores (BKL) +3.08%.

Select Harvest (SHV) +3.96% after a crop update showing the bees are buzzing with 33,000 hives now located in the almond orchards with strong tree flowering and good weather conditions for bee flight hours. Good news indeed.

Saracen Minerals (SAR) +11.48% updated the market on the current drilling at the King of the Hills project being a satellite feed to Thunderbox. 14.3m at 21.2g/t and other results from Karari showing 24m at 5.4g/t.

GDP grew a solid 0.5% in the second quarter and 3.3% over the year, its fastest pace of annual growth in four years. Economists on average tipped quarterly growth of 0.6% and annual growth of 3.3%.

According to the newly created AgriculturalLandRegister, Chineseinvestors hold just 0.38% of Australia’s agricultural land. The treasurer released the report which he said will allay concern among voters that the Chinese are buying up farmland on a massive scale. A total of 13.6% of agricultural land is held by international investors, with 52% of that owned by UK investors.

Jersey seems to be a big investor in our land.

Apartment prices in Sydney and Melbourne will fall 15-20% over the next two years, according to AMP Capital’s chief economist Shane Oliver. He said a slump in the Australian housing market would be driven by a glut of supply rather than investors defaulting.

Ironorenews: Exports from the terminal in the Pilbara totalled 42.9m metric tons in August from 38.7m in July and 39.2m a year earlier. Cargoes to China were 35.4m tons, also an all-time high, from 32.5m in July and 33.9m in August 2015.

ASIAN NEWS

China’s four biggest banks reported that staff numbers fell by the most in at least six years in the first half with Agricultural Bank’s staff numbers slipping below 500,000.

EUROPE AND THE US

European markets are set to open mildly positive

A new poll has found that FrancoisHollande would be histoire with a run off for president between Marine Le Pen and Nicholas Sarkozy. The current leader would get 11% to 15% of the vote according to nine possible combinations of the various candidates, so says the poll by TNS Sofres-OnePoint.

The fourth most powerful man at the Fed was out and about auditioning for Yellen’s job if Trump gets elected. JohnWilliams from the San Francisco Fed painted an upbeat picture of the US economy in a speech. The economy is “in good shape and headed in the right direction,” he said. He went on to say “Every meeting is live, we want to have a serious discussion.” Bout time.

Tonight is the big night for the launch of the new Apple products. iPhone7 come on down and take a bow.

And finally….

“If it’s sent by ship then it’s a cargo, if it’s sent by road then it’s a shipment.”

A ship carrying red paint collided with another one carrying purple paint. Both crews are thought to be marooned!

A cement mixer has collided with a prison van. Motorists are asked to look out for 16 hardened criminals.

Melbourne police wish to alert local residents about the activities of the infamous cross-eyed burglar. If you see this man staring in your windows, warn the people next door.